Friday, March 4, 2016

Friday wrap up

On today's respite care I went to pick up that old Narex chisel at the antique shop, kind of on my way (well sort off) to the Base woodshop :-)

Look like a No 150 or 151

I thought and I still think, that they were asking too much, even at 50% off (reg $20) but after reading about the company history I was intrigued and wanted to know how it would perform.
Now $10 is still too much, yes, but I know these fine folks that own the business and I like to support them whenever I can.

I said it look like No 150 or 151 from the 1937 catalog on their site.
The difference between No 150 and 151? Beats me, its all in German!! :-)

So mine is NOT from the Richter years, but rather NAREX, but it is still made in similar fashion complete with the sticker proclaiming EXTRA, just like in the Richter years. If it was from the Ritcher's years it would apparently be quite valuable and collectible (that's what they say on their site)





Unfortunately the area severely rusted is where I would 
have expected to find markings, model, size etc. 

The remainder of the blade look pretty bad, 
but I recovered worse :-)

One thing that I did not noticed at the time of purchase was that the blade back is bellied, ether by curvature (bent) or because the front 2 in or so have been honed a heck of a lot.

It's quite a dip, but the other side does not exhibit much curvature.
Almost look like the front got quite honed to death (belt sander??)

If it was curved in the other direction, that would be a problem, but that, I think, I can minimize it or live with it. I tried banging on it with a ball peen hammer on an anvil, then squeezed tight in a big vise jaw, did not seem to make one bit of difference. I don't want to break my $10 chisel, so I'll stop there and regroup.
No I don't want to heat it and etc.

I then gave it a quick clean up, 150 grit sandpaper and brass brush on the metal parts, including the bezels, but did not touched the wood part.


Ready for storage until it get its turn for sharpening.
At that time I would cleaned it up better first.

Why not go all the way and get it ready for sharpening now then sharpen it too? Because I don't have the time right now, but I got a good assessment of it and stopped further rust damages. Plenty good for storage!...

Then I started in earnest on the planes I brought: A Stanley No 5 Sweet Heart, with the patent date on the lever cap for the kidney shape hole and with a full length blade, a Union No 4 and a Stanley No 4 later type, Ogee frog.

The same friend that gave me the two logger's saw tools
 gave me these three  planes. I wasn't sure what to do with them, now I know.

So why on earth do I need more planes ?? Good question :-)

Well actually, I am NOT getting more planes for myself, but for my sons :-)
As we are downsizing, we asked the kids if there was anything in particular they would like from us, piece of art, furniture, whatever from our household.
I asked both if they were interested to have a kit of tools for woodworking, and they both said yes,
So, I'm putting together two tools kit for them. That should keep me occupied for a while, as I cull my "assortments" or seek other specimens to complete said kits, which the hardest part so far is to figured out just what to include!!

If you think that is easy, try making your own list. And it would have to fit in whatever cabinets or boxes I make for them. I have been struggling with such a list, my minimalist tool kit if you will,  for a while (see my first post). Chris's ATC and Hayward notwithstanding, I am still debating myself with it.

I'll show you my draft list so far tomorrow.

I did not had quite enough time to finish on my planes rescue, but the No 5 is now ready for its first sharpening job in a long time...


The Union is almost done, still need a broken tote to be fixed better than found, and the last Stanley, did not start except for blowing out the crud. That one would need new wood to fix a broken horn on the tote and a new tote screw, that original one is toasted. I probably have one somewhere...but where??

That No 5 for sure will make it to one of my son's kit, these two No 4s, not sure, I have a lot more to choose from :-)

Bob, still working on his list.

14 comments:

  1. I see you stow things very carefully too and then can't remember where you squirreled them. Bill Rittner makes replacement totes/knobs for just about any Stanley if you need to replace any of them.

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  2. Bob,

    My memory may be faulty or should that read is faulty but if the Stanley has a tombstone frog the kidney leaver cap may not be original. Not that it makes a RA.

    As much as I like old tools I do not have the energy anymore to restore....good on you for taking it on. If you need a part or two for the restores I might have it squirreled away in some dark corner of the shop. Let me know and I will look around.

    ken

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  3. The difference between 150 and 151 is that 151 is the chisel with handle, 150 is without handle.

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  4. Alfred, I guess I should have also included the previous page (32)
    Most of their tools are offered without handles, 50 series and with, series 150. Whatever the difference is between the 50 and 51 or the 150 and 151 is ... whatever it says in German :-)

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  5. Hi Ralph, yes I know of Ritner, but these two tote are an easy fix (famous last words!)
    So I guess in addition we both share the same "filing system" he he

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  6. Thank you Ken. Going off the top of my head, I believe you are correct about the kidney hole lever cap and ogee frog shape. The blade logo, cap iron and frog may appear mismatched but it was not uncommon to have some left over parts put together at the factory without regards to today's Type study. Stanley never heard of such study back then and used up their inventory of parts. The blade is full length, practically unused.

    So far the only parts I'm looking for at this time are the rear tote bolt assy. (the one shown badly bent on the pic) and one frog is missing its lateral lever. I'm pretty sure I have the bolt, but no idea where it may be located...

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  7. Ken
    Crap I meant lever cap, not cap iron.
    Why can we not fix typos in those comments??

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  8. Bob,

    If I can find it I have a busted frog (604) that should still have the lateral lever. I'll look for it if you can use and need it. I'm sure there are rear tote bolts in the parts pile but I expect you have those as well.

    ken

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  9. Hi Bob,
    If you want to, then send me both pages and I will have a look if I could translate it.
    Cheers,
    Stefan

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  10. Thanks Stefan. You will find a PDF copy of the whole 1937 catalog at this address
    http://www.narexchisels.com/Narex_Chisels/Narex_News/Entries/2012/8/24_Original_Richter_Extra_Catalogue_from_1937_(German_Language_Edition).html

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    Replies
    1. Hi Bob,
      sorry. That will be a longer one ;-)

      The description for both article numbers 150/151 is saying something like that.
      Ordinary cabinet maker chisel, light performance
      From special tool steel,
      elastic and tough,
      withstands modearte hand
      Easy to sharpen with long lasting edge.
      Oval handle,
      own construction,
      fit to palm,
      not causing calluses,
      does not tiring the hand.
      It doesn't roll from the bench because of the handle shape.

      Very nice is the sentence below the table of the handled edition "Particularly suitable for diletantes" :-))
      I guess they meant that they are good for amateurs, because they wouldn't have to care about the handle.

      Alright, you have to know that thie a catalogue from the Czech Republic and perhaps already translated from Czech into German.
      What doesn't make things better.

      The description for both types of chsiels is the same.
      From my point of view the difference between these chisels is their shape.
      The 150 has got a straight blade. The blade of the 151 is beveled.
      Have another look at the picture and you will see what I mean.

      Hope I could help a bit.

      Cheers,
      Stefan

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  11. Hi Stefan, thanks a lot. Yes translating back and forth across various language makes for some strange interpretations at time :-)

    Now that you mentioned it, I can clearly see the difference, you are right 50/150 are firmer chisels while 51/1521 are Bevel Edge chisels.

    Thanks a million

    Bob

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  12. Richter Extra chisels used to be the best quality chisels ever made, fully comparable to orig. Marple etc. Not to be compared to nowdays Irwin Marple or Narex - these are not bad, but Richter Extra used to be super high quality brand.

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  13. Hi Jan
    Thanks for the insigth. I am guessing you had the chance to try some of these older Richter Extra chisels? I am very happy with today's Narex, good steel, but no comparison to the crap Irwin make today, pale in comparison to the older Record Marples

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